The Dartmouth crew teams open the 2013 spring racing season this weekend. All three teams will be in action on the road. The Big Green women have the busiest weekend, as they will open the season with races at Rhode Island and at Columbia as the only team to race more than once this weekend.

Big Green TidbitsAway We Go – All three Big Green squads kick off the 2013 racing season this weekend. The men’s teams are coming off a 2012 season in which both teams reached the IRA National Championship. The lightweight varsity eight concluded the season as the second best team in the nation, trailing Harvard, while the heavyweight squad placed two boats in the petite final and one in the third level final. The women’s team also placed sixth in the inaugural Ivy League Championship with 29 points ahead of Penn and Columbia.

Dartmouth Women Receiving Votes in CRCA Poll – The Big Green women’s squad is receiving votes in this week’s edition of the CRCA/USARowing Coaches Poll. The Big Green have two votes in the weekly poll. The Ivy League is well represented as Princeton has a No. 3 ranking this week. Yale (10), Harvard (11), Brown (12), Columbia (16) and Cornell (18) are also ranked this week.

Big Green Men Getting Votes Too! – The men’s heavyweight team first varsity eight also opens 2013 ranked. The Big Green’s top boat enters the weekend as the No. 17 ranked boat and is one of six Ivy League boats that are ranked. Brown leads the way and is currently ranked No. 2.

Women’s Squad Opens Season with Twice the Races – The Big Green women will race twice on opening weekend. Opening at Rhode Island on Saturday before traveling to New York/New Jersey to face Columbia and Northeastern for the Woodbury Cup. This is the first time the Big Green have raced on consecutive days to open the season in the last seven seasons.

Welcome to the Team! – Among the three rowing squads, the Big Green will be welcoming a total of 49 freshmen to Hanover this season. The lightweight crew team adds 20 new members while the heavyweights will add 15 and the women will welcome 14. Welcome to Dartmouth and Hanover!

Healey Takes Over Lightweight Program – The Big Green welcomed Sean Healy to the lightweight crew family last summer, when he was named head coach, taking over for Dan Roock. Healy spent the previous six seasons as the freshman lightweight coach at his alma mater, Cornell.

Bordeau’s Return to Coach Heavyweights and Women’s Squads – Wendy Bordeau and Topher Bordeau return to coach the women and men’s heavyweight squads. Wendy is entering her ninth season as head coach and is assisted by former Dartmouth rower, Anne Kennedy. Topher Bordeau is entering his eighth season at Dartmouth and is assisted by former Dartmouth rower, Andy Hilton, who is in his third season.

Home Regatta on Tap – The Dartmouth lightweight crew team will host the lone home regatta between all the crew teams this season. The Big Green will welcome rival, Harvard and MIT to the Connecticut River on Saturday April 13.